Problems · by component

2002 Honda Odyssey engine problems

27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Honda Odyssey cite engine, 3% of all 972 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
27
3% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I've noticed that while driving the vehicle maintains speed/accelerate (without gas pedal pressed, and with cruise control off). I have to constantly fight the vehicle's constant acceleration with brakes. While idling, it keeps going to high RPM and then reduce and then high RPM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2023Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11524302
“I TOOK MY VAN TO HONDA AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR 99% OF THE TIME. MY VAN ONLY HAS 111,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM CONCERNED AS TO WHY IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OF THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT AND WAS TOLD A NEW TRANSMISSION FROM HONDA WOULD BE $4500. THERE IS NO REASON A TRANSMISSION SHOULD GO OUT AT 111,000 MILES WHEN IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED THROUGH HONDA OVER THE YEARS. MY CAR WILL NOT GO ABOVE 20 MILES AN HOUR ON MOST OCCASIONS. IF I REV THE ENGINE HIGH AND GET IT OVER 30, THEN IT WILL CHANGE TO 2ND GEAR. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ONTO INTERSTATES AND I HAVE BEEN ALMOST HIT A FEW TIMES. I CANNOT ACCELERATE TO A SAFE, MERGING SPEED. MY DRIVE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY FLASHES AND MY TCS WILL COME ON FROM HAVING TO REV THE ENGINE. I HAVE 3 KIDS AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS WITH THEM IN IT. CAN THIS BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL? PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU. [XXX] *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 11, 2016Power train, EngineODI 10854755
“ALTERNATOR BRACKET (STAY) HAS BROKEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO WORK PERFORMED ON ENGINE NEAR BRACKET WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A NEW SERPENTINE BELT. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM SEVERAL OWNERS OF 2002 TO 2004 HONDA ODYSSEY, REGARDING REOCCURRING BREAK. SOME CASES THE PART HAS BROKEN NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS IS A POORLY MANUFACTURED PART AND HONDA MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES, AND REPLACE WITH RESTRUCTURED PART. THE BRACKET BREAKING CAUSES ALTERNATOR FAILURE, WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SHUTDOWN. IF THIS HAPPENS IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGERS COULD BE AT RISK OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 7, 2016EngineODI 10818817
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DETACHED, THE BELT WAS LAYING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE MAIN SCREW FRACTURED FROM THE ALTERNATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 30, 2015EngineODI 10787242
“TRANSMISSION SLIPPING IN LOW GEARS, WOULDN'T ENGAGE/CATCH. TRANSMISSION WAS DETERMINED TO NEED REPLACING, AND SERVICE WAS COMPLETED WITH A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION BY HONDA DEALER. SECOND TRANSMISSION IS NOW SLIPPING IN LOW GEARS AND AGAIN NEEDS REPLACING AFTER ONLY 37,000 MILES. THIS SECOND TRANSMISSION HAD A WARRANTY OF 3YRS/35,000MI, SO DEALER WON'T HELP WITH REPLACEMENT COSTS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 15, 2015EngineODI 10763843
“I PURCHASED THE HONDA ODYSSEY 2002 ON TUES JULY 28TH 930PM AND WAS DRIVING HOME. I LIVED 1 HOUR AWAY FROM THE HONDA DEALERSHIP. UPON DRIVING FOR FIRST 40 MINUTES OF HIGHWAY AROUND 1020PM AS I ENTERED JERSEY CITY, NJ THE VAN STALLED AT VERY 1ST TRAFFIC INTO THE CITY. IT CAME UP WITH 2 INDICATORS: TCS AND MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP. THE ENGINE INDICATOR IS STILL ON. I TRIED TO DRIVE THE VAN FROM TRAFFIC LIGHT AND IT WOULDN'T GO OVER 20MPH WHILE RPM WOULD MOVE TO 4-5. I PULLED OVER AND WAITED 5 MINUTES, TURNED OFF THE VAN AND RESTARTED. I DROVE/MADE IT HOME SLOWLY WITH MY HEART PUMPING VERY FAST. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT HONDA IS GOING TO DO TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE VAN HAD GONE THROUGH MULTI POINT INSPECTION AND WE WERE AWARE OF KNOWN ISSUES BUT THESE TRANSMISSION ISSUE WAS IN THE CLEAR AND HAPPENS ON MY DRIVE HOME. AND THANK GOD IT HAPPEN IN THE CITY WHILE STANDING AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT VS HIGHWAY AS WELL AS THE VERY SAME DAY VS A MONTH LATER WHERE I WOULD OF HAVE BEEN OUT OF LUCK. BUT TIME WILL TELL NOW WHO MAKES WHAT EFFORT TO RESOLVE MY ISSUE. FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AT [XXX] OR [XXX]. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2015Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 10746118

Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.